Steering gear frame

ABSTRACT

A steering gear frame includes upper and lower plates joined together at flange portions to define an inner space, a steering gearbox disposed to directly contact at least one of the upper and lower plates without using a bracket, and a fixing member for fixing the steering gearbox in a state where the steering gearbox is disposed to directly contact at least one of the upper and lower plates.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a steering gear frame, which is formedby integrating a conventional suspension sub-frame and a steering gearbox with each other to support a steering gearbox assembly and a controllinks of a suspension system.

(b) Description of the Related Art

Generally, a conventional suspension sub-frame is a part of a frontwheel suspension system that is laterally arranged on a vehicle body toconnect the suspension system to the vehicle body

Accordingly, since the suspension sub-frame highly affects the rigidityof the vehicle, it has to have rigidity higher than a predeterminedlevel.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a conventional suspension sub-frame and a steeringgearbox supported by the sub-frame.

As shown in the drawings, the conventional suspension sub-frame 100comprises upper and lower plates 102 and 104 formed through a pressprocess. The upper and lower plates 102 and 104 are joined together attheir flange portions through a welding process, thereby defining asealed tube having a predetermined shape.

The upper plate 102 is elevated at its rear-middle portion to define anelevated portion 106 on both sides of which mounting brackets 110 areformed. The steering gearbox assembly 108 is fixed on the brackets 110by fasteners 112.

In addition, the suspension sub-frame frame 100 is provided with mounts114 for mounting on the vehicle body.

When the suspension sub-frame 100 and the steering gearbox assembly 108are separately made and assembled together, the suspension sub-frame 100should be formed having a sufficient rigidity so that it works well,resulting in increasing its size and weight.

Furthermore, the elevated portion 106 for supporting the steeringgearbox assembly 108 causes an increase of weight and a reduction inspace in the engine compartment.

In addition, the assembly of the suspension sub-frame 100 and thesteering gearbox assembly 108 is time-consuming and increases themanufacturing costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention is made in an effort to solve theabove-described problems.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a steering gearframe that is minimized in its size and increased in its rigidity,thereby increasing the engine compartment space and reducing the weightof the vehicle body.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a steeringgear frame having a simple structure that can be easily assembled,thereby shortening the assembling time and reducing the manufacturingcosts.

To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides asteering gear frame comprising upper and lower plates joined together atflange portions to define an inner space; a steering gearbox disposed todirectly contact at least one of the upper and lower plates withoutusing a bracket; and means for fixing the steering gearbox in a statewhere the steering gearbox is disposed to directly contact at least oneof the upper and lower plates.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, the upperplate is provided with a concave portion indented toward the innerspace, the steering gearbox is closely disposed in the concave portion,and the means for fixing comprises a fixing plate welded on the upperplate while covering the steering gearbox.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the lowerplate is provided with a concave portion indented toward the innerspace, the steering gearbox is closely disposed in the concave portion,and the means for fixing comprises a fixing plate fixed on the lowerplate while covering the steering gearbox.

According to a third embodiment of the present invention, the steeringgearbox is fixed in the inner space defined between the upper and lowerplates. The steering gear frame may further comprise a reinforcing platefixed on the lower plate while defining a predetermined space.

According to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the upperplate is provided with a concave portion indented toward the innerspace, the steering gearbox is closely disposed in the concave portion,and the means for fixing comprises welding which fixes the steeringgearbox on the upper plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention,and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles ofthe invention:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a steering gear frame according to a firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a steering gear frame according to asecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a steering gear frame according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a steering gear frame according to afourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional suspension sub-frame anda steering gearbox assembly; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be describedhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a steering gear frame according to a first embodiment ofthe present invention

The inventive steering gear frame 2 comprises upper and lower plates 61and 81, which are press-processed in a predetermined shape according toa design specification.

The upper and lower plates 61 and 81 are joined together at their flangeportions by welding, defining a sealed tube having a space 10.

The steering gear frame 2 is provided with mounts (not shown) formounting to a vehicle body. The steering gear frame 2 is furtherprovided with suspension mounts on which control arms of a suspensionsystem are mounted.

As a feature of the present invention, the steering gear frame 2 isintegrally formed with a steering gearbox assembly 4. That is, a concaveportion 24 a indented toward the space 10 is formed on the upper plate61, and the steering gearbox assembly 4 is closely inserted into theconcave portion 24 a, and a fixing member 22 a is welded on the upperplate 61 to fix the steering gearbox assembly 4, thereby integrating thesteering gearbox assembly 4 with the upper plate 61.

The concave portion 24 a is designed having a size capable of receivinga power cylinder (not shown) of the steering gearbox assembly 4. Inaddition, the concave portion 24 a and the fixing member 22 a mayfunction as the power cylinder. That is, a rack gear can be directlydisposed in a space defined by the concave portion 24 a and the fixingmember 22 a without the power cylinder.

When fixing the steering gearbox assembly 4 using the fixing member 22a, either a bolt coupling manner or a welding manner can be employed,but the latter is more preferable in terms of rigidity.

As described above, since the steering gearbox assembly 4 is integrallymounted on the upper surface of the upper plate 61 of the steering gearframe 2, the whole size of the frame 2 can be minimized as there is nonecessity for the elevated portion and the mounting brackets of theprior art.

Since the size of the steering gear frame 2 is reduced, it becomes easyto obtain a space for it in the engine compartment. In addition, sincethe number of components can be reduced, the manufacturing costs can belowered.

Furthermore, since the steering gearbox assembly 4 is integrated withthe steering gear frame 2, it functions as a structure of the steeringgear frame 2 to increase the rigidity.

FIG. 2 shows a steering gear frame according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention.

In this embodiment, a bottom-middle portion of the lower plate 82 of thesteering gear frame 2 is indented inward to define a concave portion 24b in which the steering gearbox assembly 4 is disposed A fixing member22 b is fixed on the bottom of the lower plate 82 while tightlyintegrating the steering gearbox assembly 4 with the lower plate 82joined with the upper plate 62FIG. 3 shows a steering gear frameaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the steering gearbox assembly 4 is disposed withinthe sealed tube defined by upper and lower plates 63 and 83 of thesteering gear frame 2.

That is, the steering gearbox assembly 4 is integrally disposed betweenupper and lower plates 63 and 83 whose flanges are welded to each other.

In this embodiment, the steering gearbox assembly 4 further comprisespreferably a reinforcing plate 7 for enhancing the rigidity of theframe, which is welded on the lower plate 83, while defining a space.

FIG. 4 shows a steering gear frame according to a fourth embodiment ofthe present invention.

This embodiment is identical to the first embodiment except for thefixing member 22 a.

That is, as shown in the drawing, an upper plate 64 of the steering gearframe 2 is indented inward at concave portion 24 c, and the steeringgearbox assembly 4 is disposed in and welded on the upper plate 64joined with a lower plate 84.

While this invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to thedisclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to covervarious modifications and equivalent arrangements included within thespirit and scope of the appended claims

What is claimed is:
 1. A steering gear frame comprising: upper and lowerplates joined together at flange portions to define an inner space; asteering gearbox disposed to directly contact at least one of the upperand lower plates without using a bracket; and a fastener for fixing thesteering gearbox in a state where the steering gearbox is disposed todirectly contact at least one of the upper and lower plates wherein atleast one of the lower plate or upper plate is provided with a concaveportion indented toward the inner space, the steering gearbox is closelydisposed in the concave portion, and the fastner for fixing comprises afixing plate fixed on the lower plate while covering the steeringgearbox.
 2. The steering gear frame of claim 1 wherein the lower plateis provided with the concave portion indented toward the inner space,the steering gearbox is closely disposed in the concave portion, and thefastener for fixing comprises a fixing plate fixed on the lower platewhile covering the steering gearbox.